Machine gun cartridge belt



DCC- 12, 1944 J. A. OTTERBEIN MACHINE GUN CARTRIDGE BELT Filed Sept. 14, 1942 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to the class of devices herein mentioned and which are operated in connection with machine guns to successively place the cartridges in position for insertion into the chamber in the barrel, these belts being commonly composed of woven fabric with pookets arranged to receive the cartridges extending lengthwise along the belt and which are provided with feeding members secured to effect feed of the belt for firing purposes, and an object of the invention, among others, is the provision of a cartridge belt of this type that shall be simple in construction, that may be rapidly produced and that shall effectively perform all functions for which it is made.

One form of a cartridge belt embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine gun cartridge belt embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an edge View of the same.

Figure 3 is an edge View of the feeding member for the belt shown detached from said belt.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the same.

Figure 5 is a view in section on enlarged scale showing the manner of securing the feeding member to the belt.

In the accompanying drawing the numeral 5 denotes a cartridge belt or web of the woven type with pockets 6 extending lengthwise of the belt in close arrangement to receive the cartridges 'I in a manner common to structures of thisl type. The numeral 8 denotes generally my improved device which is constructed to effect feed of the cartridge belt or web into a machine gun, this device comprising arms B-II), preferably formed of a vsingle piece of material doubled upon itself, as shown in Figure 2, the piece preferably tapering in opposite directions to a smaller dimension at the center so that when folded a loop II is formed at one end. One of the arms of the member 8, the arm 9, as shown herein, has depressions I2 adjacent one end and oppositely located near opposite edges of the device with openings I3, preferably two in number, through the bottom of the depressions, as shown in Fig. 5. Prongs I4 are stamped out from the arm 9, these prongs being preferably composed of two pairs as shown in Fig. l and they are pointed and of a length to extend through the openings I3 into the depressions or recesses I2 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. Positioning fingers I5 are stamped out from one of the arms, preferably the arm 9, as shown herein, these fingers as shown being of rectangular shape and of a length to cross the opening between the arms, as shown in Fig. 2 and abut against the inner surface of the opposite arm. These fingers provide means for positioning the end of the belt 5.

In securing the device 8 to the belt the device is bent with the arms 9-I0 in proximity one to the other but with the prongs I4 outside of but in position to enter through the belt 5 and through the openings I3 into the recesses or depressions I2 and when thus located the prongs are bent over against the floor of the recesses as shown in Fig. 5. As the belt 5 is entered between the arms 9-I0 its end is abutted against the positioning ngers I5, and the prongs being then forced through the belt and through the openings I3 are bent as shown in Fig. 5 and the belt is thus located correctly in position, and this will be found to facilitate the securing of the devices to the belt mechanically if desired and in a rapid and efcient manner.

It is of vital importance that the movement of the cartridge belt through the machine gun shall be steady and without interruption and this improved attachment provides such a structure. The device when attached to the cartridge belt presents a smooth surface without projections, the prongs I4 being bent to lie wholly within the depressions or recesses I2 so that there is no liability for their catching upon extraneous objects and the feed of the belt through the machine gun without obstruction is thereby assured.

In accordance with the provisions of the pat.. ent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried `out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim:

l. A feeding member comprising a piece of material doubled crosswise to form a loop at one end and arms extending from said loop in substantially parallel relation, and a pair of prongs stamped out from openings arranged 1n line' extending lengthwise of the feeding member in one of said arms and through the material of a member to be fed and through openings in the opposite arm, said openings being of the same shape as that of the prongs to receiVe the latter when positioned in said openings.

2. A, feeding member comprising a piece of material doubled crosswise to form a loop at one end and arms extending from saidy loop in substantially parallel relation, and a plurality of pairs of prongs each pair stamped out'l from openings arranged in line extending lengthwise of the feeding member in one of said arms for extension through the material of a member to be fed and through openings in the opposite arm, said openings being of the same shape as that of the prongs to receive the latter when arranged in a flat; position in said openings.

JOHN A. OTI'ERBEIN. 

